Malawi herbalist dares to bewitch humanist Thindwa: Eyes K1m reward

A traditional medical practitioner in Dedza has come out in the open to express his interest to bewitch Association for Secular Humanism (ASH) Executive Director, George Thindwa, for challenging that witchcraft does not exist.

Thindwa is an activist fighting for rights of people persecuted for allegedly practicing witchcraft which is not recognised by Malawian laws though there is a widespread belief of its existence among many communities in the country.

He claims that there is no evidence to prove the existence of witchcraft and as such he announced a reward of K500, 000 to anyone who will give proof of witchcraft by bewitching him. The amount was later revised upwards to K1 million after noticing that no witch or wizard came forward to cast a spell on him.

The herbalist, Masiyambuyo Njolomole who is also president of Dedza Herbalist Association, a grouping of over 2, 000 traditional medical practitioners in the district, said he is ready to bewitch Thindwa.

Herbalist Njolomole: I am ready to bewitch Thindwa

Thindwa: Claims witches do not exist

Njolomole said he is inflamed by recent media reports which quoted Thindwa as insisting that witchcraft does not exist as demonstrated by the fact that nobody has bewitched him even when he announced a reward.

Meanwhile, the herbalist is looking for an opportunity to speak with Thindwa and express his interest.

“I called him three times on Monday but he could not pick his phone. He called me a few minutes later after I had sent him a text message. However, when I told him about my interest [to bewitch him] he immediately cut me off,” Njolomole said.

But Thindwa, in a telephone interview, refuted Njolomole’s claims saying he did not receive the said text message nor did he call Njolomole.

However records in Njolomole’s phone are indicating that he sent a message to Thindwa’s number (0888853150) at 11.55 am on Monday, 25th February, 2013.